Article dispensing device



Jan. 6, 1942. A; c. HOPKINS vE-r A1. 2,268,873

' ARTICLE DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Feb. 1o, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 1 FIG 5 5 FIG. Z

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: l d' L :F 9 .57 'Il 6. 23"19' INVENTORS go 2 4 .9472 9 62 .42% ATTORNEY Jan. 6, 1942. A. c. HoPKlNs ErAL 2,268,873

ARTICLE DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Feb. 10, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 6, 1942 Arthur C. Hopkins, Tupper Lake, N. Y., and Samuel N. Hope, Wauwatosa, Wis., assignors to Oval Wood Dish Corporation, Tupper Lake, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware l Application February 10, 1940, Serial No. 318,242

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to articledispensing devices and more particularly to dispensers for spoons and similar articles.

fAn object ofthe invention istoprovide an improved dispensing device of simple and durable construction for delivering articles such as Wooden spoons and the like one at a time and in a sanitary manner.

' A nother object of the invention is to provide a dispensing device which is reliable in operation notwithstanding possible non-uniformity of the articles incident to warpingor other causes.

A further object `is to provide a dispensing device which is readily adapted for use with articles of different length. t

A still further object is to provide a dispensing device which is capable of easy assembly and inexpensive manufacture.

YThe invention further consists in the several features hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front elevationof a spoon-dispensing device constructed in accordance with the invention, the device having a base to permit table mounting;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device, an open position of a swingable front cover thereofv being sho-wn in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation;

Fig.v 4 isa top View;

5 is affront elevation, the cover being open, and parts being broken away and parts being shown in section; l,

' Fig. 6 is a top view, the cover being 'shown in transverse section .and the base and other parts being omitted, a vprojected position of a spoon handle being shown in dotted lines;

Figpl is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showin the device adapted for dispensing a longer type of spoon; Y

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional elevation taken generally along the line 8-8 of Fig. 1, a proje'cted position of a spoon handle being shown in dotted lines;

Fig.` 9 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 9-9 of Fig. 5, the cover being open and the base being omitted;

',10 is a bottom View with the base omitted, parts being broken away and parts being shown in'section; l

l1 is a detail sectional elevation taken generally along the line of Fig. 9;

12 is a detail sectional elevation taken` generally along the line |2-l2 of Fig. 9, the cover `being-'closed and a depressed position of a dispensing lever being shown in dotted lines, and Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the device with the base removed, the device being mounted on a vertical supporting wall, and an-open position of the cover being shown in dotted lines.

In these drawings, 2U designates an upright casing of generally rectangular shape and comvprising a vertical back wall 2|, opposite vertical side walls 22 each with inturned upper and lower front flanges 23 and 24, respectively, a horizontal article-supporting bottom wall or platform 25v spaced above the lower end of the casing, and a front wall or skirt 26 extending downwardly from the front edge of the bottom wall. 'I'he back wall, side walls and front anges 'are' preferably formed by a sheet metal plate suitable bent to shape, and the bottom wall and front wall are preferably formed by another bent sheet metal plate. The front wall or skirt is riveted or otherwise secured to the lower frontflanges 24 and has rearwardly bent vertical end anges2`| lapface of the back Wall 2|, the latter having for``V` wardly projecting lugsA 30 engaging the lower edges of these legs.

The casing is provided with a cover or closure 3| which preferably comprises a sheet metal plate bent to form a vertical front wall 32, a top f wall 33 and opposite side-flangesy 34, the latter beingadapted to-lap the side-walls 22 of the casing." At their lower ends ythe side flanges 34 h avehdownwardly projecting ears 35 which are embossed at theirinner sides to bear o-n the lend ii'angesll 21-1of the casing and are pivotally secured thereto bythe aligned rivets 28. 'Ihecover is releasably held vin its closed position by a friction catch 36 secured to vthe front face of y the. upper portion of the casing back wall 2 I, the

catchjcooperating with an opening 31 formed in` thecover top wall. The upper edge of the casing backvall'formsa stop engageable withthe rear edge of the cover top wall. 'I'he casing and its cover form an article-receiving container. When the coveris' in its closed position, the lower edge of its frontvwall 32 is spaced above the plane of the bottom wall or platform 25 to form an article-deliveryslot 38, as hereinafter more fully described.

In many instances it is desirable to lsupport the casing on a table or counter, and for this purpose the casing is mounted on a base 39, such as the hollow rectangular metal casting, preferably provided with rubber feet The lower end of the casing fits in a shallow rectangular recess di formed in the upper face of the base and is detachably secured to the base by screws t2 engaging eared portions of the frame or bracket 29. A stop lug is formed on the front portions of the base to limit the opening movement of the cover to an approximately horizontal position, as shown dotted lines in Fig. 2. i

The casing is also adapted to be mounted on a Vertical supporting wall as seen in Fig. 13, in which event the base 3S is removed. The back wall of the casing is engageable with the supporting wall and is provided with openings 45 to receive screws or other fastening members. When the cover is opened it is swung downwardly to the freely suspended position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 13. j

As hereinafter more fully set forth, 'the casing forms a magazine for elongated articles to be dispensed, here exemplied by ice cream spoons S, Figs. and 6, and by similarvbut somewhat longer soda spoons S', Fig. 7. These spoons may be formed by pressing thin wooden, blanks to the desired shape, and are discaidable .after use.

A4 flanged sheet metal spacer bar l-isspotwelded or otherwise secured ina verticalgposition to the front face of the casing backwall 2 l. A vertical sheet metal guide bar 4,8 of- Z-shaped cross-section is detachably secured by screws 49' to the front face on the spacer bar and, formsA therewith a vertical guideY channel. 5t `adapted to receive the handle ends Vrof a stack of the spoons S. The nested bowl portions of the spoons are inverted and areccnned ina vertical channal 5l formed by one of the hanged side ,portions of the casing.

to .provide clearance iorthe bowl portion ofV the.

lowermost spoon during withdrawalof.this-spoon. The depth or thickness. of thecontainer formed by the casing and its-cover is only slightly greater than the width of the bowl portions of the spoons.

When it is desired to dispense the soda spoons S of Fig. '7 the guide bar i8 is removed, allowing the handle ends of the stacked spoons S' to be guided by one of the anged side walls 22 of the casing and by the front face of the spacer barl d?, as indicated in Fig. 7. The width of the casing is only slightly greater than the length of the spoons S'.

The substantially fiat handle portion of the lowermost spoon is "approximately level and rests on a rib extending across the platform25jfr0m front to rear, and the bowl tip of the lowermost spoon rests on the fiat face of the platform, the latter forming a bearing surface for this spoon. Inlorder to prevent accidental tilting or disar- The lower endsof front4 flangesY 23 o f the casing and the .lower edgeof the front, fiangeof the guide bar [1B arespacedabove the. horizontal plane` of the platform 25 ,to ,permit As4 rangement of the spoons a Aridge 5,4 is formed on ly, `from the rear edge of the platformto aboutV midway between the front and rear edges of the platform.

An ejector 55 is provided for pushing the handle portion of the lowermost spoon forwardly through the delivery slot 38 in an angular path,

the spoon swinging about its bowl end to an oblique position, as indicated by dotted lines' in Figs. 6 and '7. By this movement the handle portion of the spoon is exposed at the front of the casing to permit manual withdrawal of the spoon without danger of contaminating the bowl portion of the spoon, thus avoiding the necessity for wrapping the individual spoons. The ejector isvr preferably in the form of a reciprocatory lever which extends below the platform in approximately parallel relation to the length of the platform and is pivotally secured to the platform by a vertical pivot stud 58 near the end of the platform supporting the bowl ends of the spoons. The free end portion of the lever slidably rests on the upper edge of one of the legsof the frame 29 and has anupturned pusher projection or` tongue 5l extendinsr through a slot 58y formed in the platform `near and approximately parallel to thehandle-supporting rib 53, theprojection extending high enough, to engage the rear edge of thehandle ofthe lowermost spoon but not the following spoon. The ejector` lever is normally urged rearwardly by a V-shaped torsion spring 59` havingaooiledy intermediate portion surroundingthelpivot stud 56 andhaving'projecting arms one of which engages the rear wall ingthe ejector lever forwardly on` a dispensingv stroke. 'I'heupperedge of the ejector. lever projection or tongue 51 has a path of travelwhich lies in a horizontal plane.

In order to 'insure proper dispensing of the spoons, one at a time, a leaf spring is secured at its laterally notched uppery endy tothe inner face of the cover, as by a lugged mounting plate G, spot-welded to the cover, and. has its .free lower endengageable with the front edge of the handle portion of the second lowest spoon adjacent to the `front end of the spoon-supporting rib 53.. The backwallof the` casinghas avertical, inspection slot 6.7, for enabling the user or attendant toI determine whenlthedispenser requires replenishment,

In loading the dispensing device the cover is opened and a stackof spoons is loweredintoy the open-topped` casing. Preferablythe spoons are supplied inasuitably tied bundle, so as to facilitate handling and to avoid contamination of i the spoons, the tyingA stringor bandV (not shown) being removed after the. staokis inplace. During opening of the cover-thearched yedge52 clears-the actuating lever 61. After loading'of the device the. cover is swungupwardly to its closed position, and the device is ready-for use.v

In. operation, a user desiring a spoon -depresses the actuating I lever. 6|, causing i the ejector lever. 55` toswingy forwardly against the action ofits. returnl spring-59.-y Theprojection-.. 51 Aof .the-,ejector-.lever pushesy the ,han-

A`perposedfspoonsl.The ejector lever is suitably limited initsforward movement, as by'its engagement with the front end of the slot 58. The actuating lever 6I is then released, the spring 59 returning this lever Vand the ejectorlever to their retracted positions. The user then. grasps the free endof the projected handle portion of the lowermost spoon. and pulls the spoon forwardly throughlthe delivery slot, thereby `releasing the spoon fromthe'stack. The following spoon of the stack then drops to the platform in readiness forgthe next dispensing operation. The nested relation of the bowl portionsof the spoons aids in retaining the second last spoon in the casing during the withdrawal of the lowermost spoon,

although flat spoons will also be properly dispensed.

The spoon-engaging projection 51 of the ejector lever has its path of movement adjacent to the narrow rib 53 which supports the handle portion of the lowermost spoon. By this construction accurate supporting and feeding of the spoons is assured, notwithstanding the use of the device with spoons of different length and notwithstanding possible non-uniformity of the spoons incident to warping or other causes. As the plane of the path of travel of the upper edge of the ejector lever tongue 51 is approximately parallel to the thin at handle portion of the lowermost spoon, this tongue will have a firm impelling engagement with the rear edge of this handle portion without danger of engagingthe following spoon. The rough orbrous surfaces of the wooden spoon handles tend'to cause the lowermost spoon to frictionally engage the superposed following spoon and to exert a' forward dragging and tipping action on the following spoon during the dispensing of the lowermost` spoon. The stop spring 65, however, permits the following spoon to yield forwardly a short distance during the withdrawal of the lowermost spoon and thus relieves the frictional engagement and the tipping tendency.

While the device is here shown to be used for dispensing spoons, it is also capable of use in dispensing various other articles including forksandpaddles. Although it is preferred to provide the casing with the protecting cover, the dispensing device is also operable without the cover. The device is preferably mounted in a vertical position, as shown, but it can also be mounted in other positions such as various inclined positions. If desired, any well known type of follower or feeder, not shown, may be employed for urging the stack or succession of articles toward dispensing position,as when the articles are to be fed horizontally or in an upward direction.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A dispenser for articles such as spoons and the like, comprising means for supporting a stack of the articles, and ejecting means for swinging against kwhiehthelother end portion of said'endmost I articleiis held to 'support and 'releasably rjetairrsaid. article in vitsswingably projected po-l sition.

' i.2-1A'di'spenser for 'elongated' articles suchas spoons andzthe` like, comprising a casing adapted` totAl receive therein a stack of the articles and havinggsguides for the opposite ends of the stacked-articles, an intermediate guide detachably` mounted in said casing between said firstname'd guides yfor adapting the casing to receive aistackg-of Hshorterarticles extensible between saidtin'termediate guide and one of said firstnamed guides, said. casing having va discharge space; to `permit 'lateral dispensing of `the foremost;articletherethrough, and meansfor effecting-.the'lateral 'dispensing of said foremost article.'- i v 1:3.:'A dispenser for elongated articles such as spoons and the like,zcomprising al casing adapt-- edfto receive. therein a stack of the articles and havingguides. for the .opposite ends `of theA stacked articles, an intermediate guide detachably mounted in said casing vbetween said firstnamed guides for adapting the casing to receive a stack of shorter articles extensible between said intermediate guide and one of said first-named guides,` and common ejecting means operable on either the long or the short articles for projecting an endmost article from the stack, said casing having a discharge opening for` the articles.

4. A dispenser for elongated articles such as spoons and the like with arched end portions, comprising a casing adapted to receive therein a stack of the articles and having an abutment engageable by the foremost article, said casing having a delivery space to permit lateral dispensing of the foremost article therethrough,

and said casing having a projection engageable by the concave side ofthe arched end portion of the foremost article for limiting tipping movement of the stacked articles, and ejecting means an endmost article laterally of the stack to project for said articles.

-5. A dispenser for thin elongated articles such as spoons and the like, comprising means for supporting a stack of the articles, means for displacing the foremost article laterally of the Stack and for sliding said foremost article along the underside of the second foremost article resting thereon, and a resiliently mounted member yieldably engageable with the front edge of the second foremost article of the stack to prevent tilting disarrangement of the stacked articles and to restrain lateral discharge of said second foremost article, said resiliently mounted member being out of the discharge path of the foremost article and permitting a limited lateral yielding of said second foremost article by the frictional engagement between said two articles during the lateral displacement of said foremost article.

6. A dispenser for thin elongated articles such as spoons and the like, comprising means for supporting a stack of the articles and including an abutment engageable flatwise by the foremost article, normally retracted ejector means for displacing the foremost article laterally of the stack and having an impelling portion engageable with the rear edge of said foremost article, said abutment being adjacent to the path of said impelling portion and being engageable with a relatively small area of the foremost article, and the free edge of said impelling portion having a path of travel lying in a plane substantially parallel 1to the lateral path of travel of the foremost aricle.

7. A dispenser for elongated articles such as spoons and the like, comprising azcasing adapted to receive therein. a. stack ofi the articlesand having a bottom portion on which the lowermost article is adaptedto rest, sair4 casing having a discharge opening. for.` the articles',l andi eject'lng meanssforv laterallyl displacing the "foremost article of' the stack: and, comprising a1 forwardly movable lever extending below said bottomportionlandpivoted; on said-casing to swing aboutv ananas transverse to the plane' of said bottom portion, said lever having an upwardly projecting: impelling.portion engageable with the rear edge-zothe lowermost article.

A dispenser for. articles such as spoons and theglika comprising a, casing. adapted to receive thereina .stack of the` articles and having abuttorn wall for supporting said stack and `a front wall; projecting downwardly from saidV bottom wallrsaid casing having;a. discharge opening for thezarticles; andjectingI means for laterally displacing: theplowerrnosta article of they stack and including an ejecting` lever for said articlev exl article;-`

tendingebelow:saidlbottom Wall and a manually. op'erablefactuating leverrexten'ding through said fror'rtfwall,.saidliejecting lever` having a pivotal o said supporting. means toV swing about an axis substantial-mat r'ghtangles to the lateral path ofi travel-'.of saidendmostY article, said lever havingr, aai laterally 'projecting vimpelling portion engageable'fwith the. rearv edge of said endmost ARTHUR C. HOPKINS. SAMUEL N. HOPE. 

